Our Teen Autism Group (TAG)  is designed for adolescents ages 13-17 with ASD to practice social skills, enhance life skills and work on self-advocacy skills in a fun and relaxing atmosphere with activities that build on one another. These semester-long programs meet every other week in community locations in Seminole, Volusia, Lake, Osceola and Orange Counties.

Attendance is mandatory for the duration of the group (6-8 sessions per semester), as sessions build upon each other and the teens learn strategies and skills to enhance their social, self-advocacy and self-determination skills. These groups provide an excellent opportunity for teens to make lasting friendships and be provided with social skill feedback from trained facilitators.

TAG is appropriate for students who can actively participate and communicate in a group of 10-15 with two adult facilitators.  They must be independent in their toileting, and be able to follow directions from the leaders without additional adult support.  If the student requires 1:1 support, elopes from groups, engages in aggression or property destruction, or has recently (within 6 months) been hospitalized via Baker Act, they are not ready to participate in TAG.  Interested families should schedule a discussion with their UCF CARD ASD specialist to discuss if TAG is a good fit for their teen.